OUR CO-SPONSORS

The Rose O'Neill Literary House is the home of student writers at Chestertown's own Washington College. Overseen by essayist Joshua Wolf Shenk, the refurbished Victorian is a gathering place for students, faculty, and visiting scholars and artists. A testament to its long tradition of hosting America's best writers, the Literary House has been described as "the Carnegie Hall of literary readings." The Lit House will host the Friday evening events of Idiots'Fest.

Bookplate is a "good old bookstore" carrying on the tradition of focusing on interesting and fun used and out-of-print books. In addition to an impressive collection of signed first editions, proprietor Tom Martin offers unique pottery and ceramics from places around the world, including Israel (Jerusalem) and Spain (Della Vera and Grenada). Bookplate will host the Saturday events of Idiots'Fest.

IDIOTS'FEST 2008: Subscribers that Rock is a two-day literature and music festival in celebration of the Idiots'Books subscribership. Come see and hear authors, musicians, comics, idiots, and physicists. Come eat slow-cooked Virginia barbeque. Come see lovely, historic Chestertown Maryland in the dead of winter! Just come.

GUESTS

Jim Shepard, Brian Slattery, Drew Bunting, Matthew Swanson, Robbi Behr, Brian Wecht, Rich Flynn, Aidan Shepard, Victor Wishna

SCHEDULE

Friday, Feb 15

Rose O'Neill Literary House

407 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, MD

6:00-8:00pm

Robbi and Matthew read from their work while musicians Brian SlatteryDrew Bunting attempt to distract them with musical instruments

Drew Bunting and Brian Slattery play original and unoriginal music while singing and playing the following: guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and kazoo

Saturday, Feb 16

The Bookplate backroom

112 South Cross Street, Chestertown, MD

2:30-5:30pm

Victor Wishna, stand-up comic stands up and acts comical

Robbi and Swanson read from their work while musicians contribute tones, both dulcet and jarring

Brian Slattery, author of Spaceman Blues: A Love Song, "rocks" his book while musicians Drew Bunting (guitar), Brian Wecht (keyboard, sax, and clarinet), Rich Flynn (bass), Aidan Shepard (percussion), and Matthew Swanson (harmonica) provide the score. Offensive to the eye and ear

Intermission: Brian Slattery and Victor Wishna will sign their books; also, the audience may rest

Dr. Brian A. Wecht, B.A., PhD., member of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, delivers a stirring lecture titled "String Theory for Idiots" which may involve musicians

Jim Shepard, novelist, short story writer, and finalist for the 2007 National Book Award in Fiction will appear before you. Perhaps he will read. Perhaps he will simply stand and stare. Regardless, you will be grateful to have been there

5:30-6:00

Jim Shepard will sign books for adoring fans and bitter enemies alike

6:00-7:00

Virginia barbeque-brisket, ribs, chicken, seafood, veggies; you will eat a lot and feel sick. $10 a head

7:00-10:00

The Reverend Drew Bunting and his backing band "Textual Healing" take you places that you have never been. Band members are Brian Wecht, Rich Flynn, Aidan Shepard, and Matthew Swanson